Crack Pipe FAQs: What service providers need to know Presenter: Andrew Ivsins
Presentation objective Answer some common questions about crack pipe sharing. Provide an overview of current best practice recommendations for ‘safer crack use equipment’ distribution.
Common FAQs: Why do people share crack pipes? Can I get diseases from sharing crack pipes? What is the purpose of distributing crack pipes? What are the best practice recommendations for crack pipe distribution? Doesn’t distributing crack pipes encourage crack use?
Crack use in Canada Crack use has been increasing in Canada since the early 1990s. Studies show prevalence rates among street-involved drug users ranging from 50% to almost 90%. Many injection drug users also smoke crack. Crack use is associated with a variety of social and health problems.
Crack pipe sharing Sharing crack pipes is common among crack users. Pipes are often made from makeshift materials that can cause cuts and burns on/in the mouth. Sharing pipes is associated with infectious disease transmission.
Why do people share pipes? Data from two studies: 1. The SCUK study: an evaluation of a “safer crack use kit” (SCUK) distribution program. (Ivsins, Roth, Nakamura, Krajden, Fischer, 2011) 1. The CPS study: a study exploring the social, environmental and structural factors influencing crack pipe sharing (CPS). (Ivsins, Roth, Benoit, Fischer, 2013)
Findings Three main themes: Sharing pipes with friends and partners 1. Economic motivations for sharing pipes 2. Rules and etiquette of pipe sharing 3.
Sharing pipes with friends and partners Norms encourage sharing pipes with “Cause we do friends and intimate/sexual partners. everything else together, why not sharing a pipe. Sharing pipes can be a bonding Cause I’m like experience between friends or married to him, we’re intimate partners. like married…I don’t have to feel bad sharing my pipe with Concerns about infection or disease him.” transmission are ignored. (29 year old female CPS study participant)
Economic motivations: collecting resin Pipe sharing is shaped by economic “I mean, I have had to share my pipe with, like, conditions of poverty and resource four people. And then I scarcity. had so much resin, that it was just wonderful !” (45 year old female CPS Collecting crack resin motivates study participant ) lending pipes to others. “It puts resin in my pipe. I’m honest, right. You know, that’s why I do it, right .” (49 year old male CPS study participant)
Economic motivations: pipe-drug exchange Norms require that people offer “A lot of times crack in exchange for borrowing a people don’t have pipe. any dope and they really need a hoot. If you loan your pipe These norms benefit people who out, the expectation have pipes and are willing to lend is that they’re gonna them out. leave some in the pipe for you…And that way you get your high.” (29 year old male SCUK study participant)
The rules and etiquette of sharing Crack pipe sharing “etiquette” “Etiquette…Don’t burn the Brillo and don’t determines how pipes are shared, break the pipe.” used and handled by the borrower. (29 year old female CPS study participant) Many of the rules of sharing pipes “You don’t tip it down. concern accumulating and You keep it straight- retaining resin in the pipe. leveled. Cause you’ll get…all the resin that’s around the Brillo and Violating sharing norms often results that, that’s around the in informal sanctions. crack pipe. You don’t do that .” (40 year old male CPS study participant)
What happens when you break the rules? “Oh yeah, I’ve seen people get punched out for not using someone’s pipe you know, appropriately. Yeah or lighting it for too long. Or tilting it down. Like if you drool on someone’s pipe you’re […] shot, also .” (33 year old female CPS study participant) “Anything from someone getting a little upset with you to, literally, probably stabbing you…beating you up.” (40 year old female CPS study participant)
Why does it matter that people share pipes? Prevalence of BBVs among crack smokers: HIV 6% to 18% HCV 29% to 36% HCV as high as 79% among smoker/injectors. Among drug users with no history of injection: HIV up to 14.6% HCV 2.3% to 35.3% HBV 1.7% to 45.8%
Why does it matter that people share pipes? Without access to pipes, people make pipes from unsafe objects. Smoking from unsafe pipes can cause cuts and burns to the lips and mouth. Without access to clean pipes, people tend to share unsafe pipes.
Why does it matter that people share pipes? Studies show that pipe sharing is a risk factor for HCV and HBV infection. Viruses can contact blood via dental problems that facilitate transmission ulceration of gums, burns and cuts to the lips and mouth. HCV was detected on a recently used crack pipe.
Safer crack smoking equipment distribution Distribution of crack pipes and ‘safer crack use kits’ has been suggested as a way to reduce pipe sharing. Four items are considered “core” supplies for safer smoking: 1. Heat resistant glass stems 2. Mouthpieces 3. Push sticks (non-scratching) 4. Screens (heat resistant, pliable, no coatings)
Safer crack smoking equipment distribution Equipment is considered unsafe and needs to be replaced when: The pipe and/or the mouthpiece have been used by anyone else. The pipe is scratched, chipped or cracked. The mouthpiece is burnt. The screen shrinks and is loose in the stem.
Safer crack smoking equipment distribution Recommended best practice policies: Provide safer smoking equipment - stems, mouthpieces, screens, and push sticks - in the quantities requested by clients without requiring clients to return used equipment. Make available both pre-packaged kits and individual pieces of equipment. Integrate distribution of safer smoking equipment into existing harm reduction programs and services, including within needle and syringe programs (NSPs). Provide safe disposal options, including personal sharps containers, and encourage clients to return and/or properly dispose of used or broken pipes.
Safer crack smoking equipment distribution Recommended best practice policies: Provide other harm reduction supplies, such as condoms and lubricant, in the quantities requested by clients with no limit on the number provided. Educate clients about safer use of equipment, safer smoking practices, the risks of sharing smoking supplies, and safer sex. Educate clients about the proper disposal of used safer smoking equipment. Provide multiple, convenient locations for safe disposal of used equipment.
Does distributing pipes encourage crack use? NO
Conclusions Distribution of safer crack use equipment is an important harm reduction measure. BUT… Social norms should be considered in any drug use intervention program. Peer-based-interventions, including education and social interaction, may reduce risk behaviours. Ideally: promote risk reduction new social norms internalized less-risky behaviours adopted.
THANK YOU! aivsins@gmail.com
Recommend
More recommend
